From: Alex de Joode <usura@replay.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Jul 1996 02:40:37 +0800
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: #E-CASH: PRODUCT OR SERVICE?
Message-ID: <199607162048.WAA07892@basement.replay.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


[..]
: "Ecash" is a registered trademark of DigiCash.  It is registered
: with the Benelux trademark office and the United States
: trademark office.  I believe that it is considered unwise to use
: minor variations on trademarked names, but I'm not an
: intellectual property rights lawyer.

The Benelux (Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) trademark laws
don't allow for slight variations, certainly not if there is a 
change that people get confused, it is very very likey that the
judges of the benelux trademark court will decide that
ecash and e-cash are just to simular, and will thus confuse the
public. (art 5 lid 1 BMW)

btw: I'm surprised DigiCash didn't file for a European Trademark,
but opted for Benelux and US protection.

bEST Regards,
--

	-AJ-